---
title: 'Recreation Therapist | Complex Mental Health at Carewest Innovative Healthcare'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/recreation-therapist-complex-mental-health-carewest-innovative-healthcare-cbfxdk4zz14y'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-12'
---

# Recreation Therapist | Complex Mental Health at Carewest Innovative Healthcare

- **Company:** Carewest Innovative Healthcare
- **Location:** Calgary, Canada
- **Employment:** part-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-11-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/carewest/7f604c95-fd39-4098-9be5-d7e2c0f1be38

## Job description

Position Details

Position Status: Regular Full Time | Regular Part Time Location: Bridgeland Riverside Care Centre FTE: 1 .0 | 0.8 Shift: Days Shift Times: 08:00 - 16:15 Rate of Pay: $40.81 - $54.34

## UNION: HSAA

Offer Acceptance Timeline: Due to the operational timelines associated with the opening of the new Bridgeland site, successful candidates will be required to accept or decline their offer of employment within a shortened timeframe following the verbal offer. Candidates are encouraged to be prepared to make a timely decision upon receiving an offer Position

Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Care, the Recreation Therapist I is a member of the interprofessional health care team responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating therapeutic recreation services for individuals with complex mental health, behavioural, and cognitive needs.

The Recreation Therapist provides individualized and group-based therapeutic interventions focused on functional improvement, leisure education, meaningful engagement, social participation, and psychosocial well-being. Working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team, the Recreation Therapist develops person-centred treatment plans that promote recovery, independence, dignity, and quality of life within a safe and supportive therapeutic environment.

The Recreation Therapist also provides guidance and support to recreation support staff, students, and volunteers while maintaining professional standards in accordance with the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), Carewest's Philosophy of Care, and organizational policies.

Program Summary: Complex Mental Health is a specialized mental health continuing care and post-acute program providing comprehensive care for adults with complex behavioural, cognitive, and mental health needs, including severe and persistent mental illness, dementia, acquired brain injury, and concurrent disorders. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the program delivers person-centred care in a safe and therapeutic environment that supports quality of life, dignity, and meaningful engagement.

Qualifications and Experience:

- Bachelor's degree from a recognized program in Recreation Therapy, Leisure Studies, Recreation Administration, or a related field.
- Current and active registration with the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA).
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider CPR certification.
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) designation is an asset.
- Three years of recreation therapy experience is preferred.
- Experience providing therapeutic recreation interventions to individuals with complex mental health, behavioural, or cognitive needs is preferred.
- Experience developing and implementing individualized and group-based therapeutic recreation programs that support psychosocial well-being, recovery, and meaningful engagement.
- Knowledge of person-centred, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed approaches to care.
- Experience supporting individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, dementia, acquired brain injury, or concurrent disorders is an asset.
- Demonstrated ability to assess client needs, establish therapeutic goals, and evaluate treatment outcomes.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to respond appropriately to challenging behaviours and complex care situations.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team to support coordinated treatment planning and care delivery.
- Experience working in specialized mental health, continuing care, rehabilitation, or post-acute settings is an asset.
- Familiarity with clinical documentation systems and relevant privacy legislation is an asset.

## About Carewest Innovative Healthcare

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Carewest Innovative Healthcare is a non-profit public healthcare provider based in Calgary, Alberta, offering long-term care, rehabilitation, recovery services, and community programs for seniors and adults of all ages.
- **Entity Type**: Public non-profit (wholly-owned subsidiary of Assisted Living Alberta; no equity funding or ticker)
- **Headquarters**: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- **Founded**: 1961
- **Founders**: Not applicable (established as a public health authory)

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Healthcare services – continuing care, rehabilitation, and community health
- Target customers: Patients and residents across the lifespan (seniors, adults with complex needs, mental health, rehabilitation clients); B2C (individuals) and B2G (funded by Alberta Health Services)
- Mission: To provide excellent, person-centered care that promotes choice, independence, and quality of life in a safe and compassionate environment.

## Products & Services
- **[Long-Term Care Services]**: 24/7 nursing care and support for residents at 14 sites across Calgary. Type: Healthcare service.
- **[Rehabilitation & Recovery Services]**: In-patient and out-patient programs including musculoskeletal, geriatric mental health, and complex continuing care. Type: Healthcare service.
- **[Community & Day Programs]**: Day hospitals, social/leisure activities, and support for seniors living at home. Type: Community service.
- **[Complex Mental Health Care]**: Specialized units for adults with complex behaviours and mental health conditions, including a harm reducton program. Type: Healthcare service.
- **[Operatonal Stress Injry Clinic]**: Support for veterans and first responders affected by occupational stress injuries (locations in Calgary and Red Deer). Type: Outpatient clinical service.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not applicable (non-profit public provider)
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue $100M–$500M (LinkedIn estimate); employs ~2,600–3,000 staff (company website & Linkedin)
- **Notble Investors/Partners**: Publicly funded through Alberta Health Services; parent organization Assisted Living Alberta
- **Growth Signals**: +8.8% headcount growth year-over-year (LinkedIn); new Bridgeland Riverside Continuing Care Centre in development; expanding community-based programs

## Competitive Advantages
- **Integrated continuum of care** – from long-term care to rehabilitation to community day programs, all under one system.
- **Not-for-profit status** ensures reinvestment in patient care and staff support rather than shareholder returns.
- **Deep local presence** – 14 facilitys across Calgary, over 950 long-term care residents and 350 rehabilitation beds served annually.
- **Recognized top employer** – named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for work/life balance, benefits, and team environment.

## Strategic Focus
- **Expansion of continuing care capacity** with new builds (e.g., Bridgeland Riverside Centre).
- **Enhance of specialized mental health and harm reducton services** (Complex Mental Health/Harm Reducton Program).
- **Investent in workforce** – continuing education, committee partipation, and employee well-being initiatives.
- **Adoption of technology in care delivery** (AI in hiring processes, digital scheduling – implied by Lever careers portal use).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: emphasis on caring, relationships, exellence, accountability, and teamork. Staff are encouraged to bring heart to work.
- **Work Environment**: All roles are on-site (in-person care delivery). Shifts include full-time, part-time, and casual positions.
- **Benefits**: Competitive wages, medical/dental coverage for regular part-time (30+ hours bi-weekly) and full-time staff.
- **Professional Development**: Internal training, educational opportunites, committee involvement, and growth across disciplines. Notable per: “We hire for attitude and heart as much as skill.”
- **Recognition**: Alberta’s Top Employer – highlights strong work/life balance and collaborative environment.
- **Volunteer Opportunites**: ~500 volunteers contribute 10,000+ hours annually, integrated into care teams.

## Sources
1. [carewest.ca – Our History](https://carewest.ca/our-history/)
2. [carewest.ca – Working at Carewest](https://carewest.ca/working-at-carewest/)
3. [carewest.ca – Careers](https://carewest.ca/careers/)
4. [linkedin.com/company/carewest-innovative-health-care](https://linkedin.com/company/carewest-innovative-health-care)
5. [jobs.lever.co/carewest – Current openings](https://jobs.lever.co/carewest)

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